Tagged: perspective

FINRA Launches Online BrokerCheck Research Tool, But Does It Work?

Early last week the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rolled out a multi-million dollar ad campaign promoting its online research tool called “BrokerCheck.” BrokerCheck is free online database intended to provide the investing public with an east way to research brokers and investment advisers before… Read More

Warren Wrong: Senator’s Attack on Mary Jo White is Misdirected

Senator Elizabeth Warren, an outspoken critic of all things associated with Wall Street, launched a blistering frontal assault against the current Chair of the SEC – Mary Jo White. It should be noted that Mary Jo White was selected by President Barack Obama to reinvigorate… Read More

Capital Unbound; Piwowar Suggests Regulators Need Restraining & Crowdfunding Should Look to States

A CATO Institute event on the status of capital markets in the US provided a bright spot to an otherwise bleak and rainy day in New York City. Amidst the libertarian rhetoric and literature, two speakers stood out with certain observations and proposed remedies to… Read More

Regulatory Morass: A Visual Depiction of the Convoluted Financial Sector Rules (Infographic)

SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher has completed the final update of his “crazy quilt” chart of regulations that smother financial services firms.  It is a wonder that anyone working in the financial sector does anything else but review and comply with mandatory rules.  And these are… Read More

Final Report: SEC Forum on Small Business Capital Formation

How time flies. The SEC is mandated by law to convene a forum on Small Business Capital Formation once a year. The practice has become an annual event that combines both hope and frustration.  The SEC is not required to act on any of the… Read More

Peer to Peer Lending: Taking The Fear Out Of “Shadow Banking”

For years now, big bank lenders have warned the public about the dangers of dealing with “shadow” (i.e. non-bank) lending institutions. The term itself conjures up images of shady back-room deals where you’re handed money in a paper bag and told to pay it back… Read More

The State of Massachusetts vs. Regulation A+: State Regulators Take the SEC to Court

On the eve of the 2015 Memorial Day weekend, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin set the stage for what I expect will be the final chapter in the continuing saga of what has popularly been referred to as Regulation A+,  a newly created avenue… Read More

When to Pivot, When to Fold: What Every CEO & Investor Needs to Know

The thing that excites me most about today’s crowdfinance-inspired path of capital formation is its unprecedented ability to mitigate shareholder risk and groom more productive businesses. It does this by allowing companies to gauge consumer demand and presell products prior to it outlaying any manufacturing,… Read More

Aligning Entrepreneur and Crowdinvestor Interests

  Crowdinvesting has contributed to the development of new organizational forms that in particular affects entrepreneur – investor relations. In this new reality, it is normal for startups to have an average of 125 investors. A potential burden for small founder teams, but also a… Read More

Canada: There’s a New Way for Companies to Raise Capital from the Crowd

Six Canadian provinces jumped into the equity crowdfunding space in a big way on May 14, 2015. British Columbia, Saskatchewan,  Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia announced a new prospectus exemption for early stage companies to raise capital. When I first read the press release,… Read More

Fund Forward: 8 Exciting Trends in Crowdfunding That Are Coming Sooner Than You Think

With a compound annual growth rate of 88% since 2011, crowdfunding, particularly equity crowdfunding, is taking off. The decentralization of finance gives individuals more choice and control as to where they invest their money, and simultaneously offers startups access to new sources of capital. So… Read More

It’s Official – the FinTech Revolution has arrived, according to The Economist!

Is this a defining moment? For many I suspect it will be – although to judge by the comments, some of them who clearly think that the trust that the banks squandered long ago is still in place, other who clearly see the old order… Read More

Moving On: Commissioner Daniel Gallagher Expected to Depart SEC After Four Years

One of the most vocal advocates for small business and rational rule making is leaving the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Daniel Gallagher, an SEC Commissioner for the past four years, has reportedly told multiple people he is ready to move on after a vocal tenure… Read More

Taxing Crowdfunds: Canary Wharf Hack Moot In The Face of Brussels Butchery of EU VAT Laws

EU Poised to Tax Crowdfunding Campaigns Potentially Killing Off Source of SME Funding Will Crowdfunders from the US and across the world be caught in the crossfire as the EU quietly prepares to declare war on the Internet’s behemoths? The European Union is considering the… Read More

The New Crowdfunding Market in Asia: Taiwan

  Crowdfunding is estimated to be commencing this May (2015) in Taiwan. To encourage the development of start-ups and SMEs, the financial authority in Taiwan, which is called Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), will provide a regulatory structure for crowdfunding. Since the Security Act in Taiwan requires the… Read More

Louise Beaumont: UK Elections Reflect Support of Economic Policy

The UK has differentiated its economy, and much other policy, from the mainland Europe.  While many EU countries experience disappointing economic growth, the UK has performed better.  Policies and pronouncements from the Cameron government, now preparing for round two at Number 10 Downing, have resonated… Read More

STATE OF THE STATES: An Update On Intrastate Crowdfunding

Normally when I write about updates on intrastate crowdfunding legislation it’s simply to let readers know that one, two, maybe even as many as three states have either enacted or proposed new legislation. Not this time, however, as the first quarter of 2015 has brought… Read More

InvestUp Executive Touts 3 Priorities for Incoming UK Government to Boost SMEs

As all of the UK awaits final election results, James Tuckett, Managing Director of investUP, has highlighted his top priorities to boost SMEs for the next UK government. Today there are over 5 million small companies in the UK, as with much of the world, small… Read More

SEC Commissioner Kara Stein: “I Have Been Thinking About Ways to Plug the Gaps in Access to Capital for Startups & Emerging Companies”

SEC Commissioner Kara Stein participated in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Corporate Women in Finance Symposium last week where she delivered a speech tackling creating a stronger economy and creating healthy companies.  The topic of the day was “Opportunities for Investment, Innovation, and Growth through Technology and Corporate… Read More

The Trouble with Self-Directed IRAs

A fintech-focused SDIRA newcomer who embraces technology will likely obsolete present-day providers Don’t get me wrong. Self-Directed IRAs are the greatest thing since sliced bread. They allow us to dramatically diversify our retirement portfolios with the asset classes typically reserved for the wealthy: real estate,… Read More

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